Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP today (Saturday) urged the two
governments ``to see beyond the current difficulties and resist the
temptation to do contradictory side deals''.

Speaking at the opening of a new Sinn Fein centre in Tralee, County Kerry,
with Martin Ferris, Mr Adams very specifically warned on the issue of
flags and the RUC or any of the other touchstone issues for nationalists
and republicans. ``It would be folly for the British Government to make
concessions to unionism on any of these matters,'' he said.

Mr Adams continued:

``Sinn Fein does not underestimate how unionism is challenged by the
uncertainties of the peace process, particularly at this time, in the wake
of last weekend's initiative and in the run-up to next weekend's Ulster
Unionist Council meeting. But the peace process also presents challenges
to the other parties and particularly to the two governments. Next week
will see the continuation of the effort to renegotiate the context of the
measures agreed by the two governments and on which the IRA initiative is
predicated.

``Whether it be on the issue of flags or the RUC - or any other touchstone
issue for nationalists and republicans - it would be folly for the British
Government to make concessions to unionism on any of these matters. The
focus of the two governments must be long-term and strategic. Mr Trimble
has a proven record of over-negotiating and, of course, his opponents will
accept nothing less than the destruction of the Good Friday Agreement.

``So the two governments must see beyond the current difficulties and
resist the temptation to do contradictory side deals. Unionism should
know by now not to have any faith in the politics of fudge. The choice is
clear: to go forward on the basis of the Good Friday Agreement and a
partnership between all the pro-Agreement parties, or go backwards.''

Mr Adams also spoke out about the ongoing revelations about corruption in
the 26-County state.

``The revelations of corruption and bribery are endemic of the subversion
of politics by big business. No one should imagine that this problem is
confined solely to Dublin. It is endemic in the politics of the big
parties.

``One way of dealing with the corruption in the planning process would be
to ensure that all planning meetings which are currently held in committee
should be open to the public and the media. Sinn Fein councillors in
County Kerry will be proposing this in their local authorities.''